It’s been a rough week in the world. There’s been a lot of violence, and while my heart hurts for those who were lost, I don’t feel like it’s my place to speak on the tragedies, beyond sending my thoughts to the people affected. Instead, I felt it might be a good idea to focus on something that I always find myself coming to when things feel unstable: music. A lot of interesting music was released on Friday, so I felt that a testing of that music, disregarding any previous work I’ve heard by the artists and not doing any research on the artists beforehand, as I would normally do, was in order. This is just going to be about finding good music to recommend to anyone who’s in need of it this week.
NEED YOU ALLIE X FT VALLEY GIRL
I felt like this song was cool. It felt like something that just barely misses the mark (but maybe doesn’t) of what gets played on the radio. I tend to prefer that kind of music to the stuff that actually gets played, mostly because it only gets worn out if I can’t stop playing it for a month.
ADELINE ALT-J
This song is quiet, and some may find it sad, but I kind of like it for those moments where you just want to sit or lie down and listen to a song that you can almost feel comforted by. It repeats the phrase “I wish you love” over and over at parts, which is something that I don’t feel we could ever say or hear enough.
BELIEVE BENJAMIN BOOKER
This song sounds like what I would imagine John Mayer’s music would sound like. I like the older vibe of this song, and the inclusion of the violin. It adds just the right amount of drama, to go with some pretty dramatic (but also, maybe kind of fitting) lyrics.
CUT TO THE FEELING CARLY RAE JEPSEN
Even if this song didn’t appear to be what joy would sound like if it could be recorded in song, the harmonies just before the chorus would’ve done it for me anyway. If “Believe” had an opposite, in terms of feeling evoked and sound, it would be “Cut To The Feeling”. If you’re looking for a song which has you wanting to break out into song and dance as if your life were a musical, this is the one.
LOVIN' YOU COLDABANK
Another one that is a lot, but, as I’m a sucker for things I can dance to, I loved this one. If you’ve already heard “Cut To The Feeling” and not this, I suggest you give this a listen, and vice versa.
100M'S DAVE
The vocal and the production in the music on this one compliment each other very well. I wasn’t expecting this one, but I’m glad I’ve heard it.
IF BEFORE I WAKE DISTRICTS
This song has a dated feel behind it in the same way that Benjamin Booker’s voice does on “Believe”. They sound totally different, but both still dated. I use the word dated because they both sound like they would’ve done well in the early to mid 2000’s, which doesn’t warrant the word old.
TOGETHER GIRLHOOD
I have to look up the lyrics for this one, but I really enjoy it, even not knowing what the lyrics are saying. It reminds me a bit of the sound of Corinne Bailey Rae.
LOVE IN BAD COMPANY GOTTS STREET PARK FT DIELLE
I had decided this song was going on the list after only listening to a few seconds on it. The bluesy vibe on this reminds me of a breezy summer night.
STRANGERS HALSEY FT LAUREN JAUREGUI
I could write an entirely separate piece on what it means to me to have a duet between two mainstream female artists that’s a love song, but, like I said, that’s a separate piece. I’ve been waiting eagerly for this song since it was first announced in the track list of Halsey’s new album. My expectations were sky high, and they did not disappoint.
HOT SPICE ISAIAH DREADS FT ONE ACEN
I can’t really explain why I like this one, but I do. It’s somewhat similar to “100M’s”, but they’re also totally different, if that makes sense.
THAT KIND OF LOVE LOW ISLAND
This is a really cool song. Another track in which the vocals and instrumentals come together in just the right way.
